PowerBuilder 2022 - CD Player Updated!

** Hot News **

New version of the PowerBuilder CD player released!

Built from the STD Integrated framework!  

    Software Tool & Die Inc.are please to announce the release of an updated Compact Disc Player (version 2023.1.55) application all written in PowerBuilder 2022 - build 1892! This application demonstrates the power of using the STD Integrated Framework plus the all the Unicode based MCI (Multimedia Command Interface) API's now residing in the base classes. The updated application can be deployed as either a Win32 / Win64  native application or a PowerClient application and allows the user to control music from any CD/DVD player attached to their PC.

    The amazing changes to this release were the refactoring of the previous code to dovetail into the latest STD Integrated Framework for PB release 2022! New features include: a) can now reside in the O/S's System Tray; b) can be compiled for the first time into a 64 bit EXE; c) can be compiled into either a 32 or 64 bit PowerClient application; W11 ready and; d) Theme ready!

     Not only is this a "kool" application to run - it demonstrates important low-level control of the O/S that you can easily achieve using the framework's extensive external API's and support for PB 2022's latest features. When you add the STD framework to the PB development mix - a whole new horizon of application possibilities emerges! 

    If you would like to enjoy the Native or PowerClient version of the above CD Player application, please visit the SourceForge website download the CD Player from this link. Note that all the applications and the framework itself  in the SourceForge project are free & open source!

  To commemorate the release of the various Star Wars movies, the CD Player has been enhanced with various sound effects that salute this great story-line & movie franchise. I hope that you enjoy the updated Star-wars CD Player edition!

You seek a PowerBuilder Master.
Know him I do,
Find him I will!
Hmmm .. you seek Chris Pollach

PB 2022 - Multi-Media Application updated!

**  Hot news **

Multi-Media App updated for PB2022!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce the release of its updated all PowerBuilder built MS-Window's Multi-Media Player example application all written in PowerBuilder 2022 - build 1892! This application demonstrates the power of using the STD Integrated Framework plus its new "vs_ole_media_player_master" object class. The latest application release was designed with the following in mind:

• Updated to use the latest PB 2022 IDE - build 1892!
• Updated the STD Integrated framework to the latest release (2023 R1)
• Updated use the latest MS-Window's O/S "Notification" feature (via STD framework)
  
• Updated to use the latest PB2022's Theme features. 
• Can now be run under the O/S System Tray!
• Tested the Base64 code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.2788
• Tested the Base64 code on W11 version 22H2 build 22621.1413
• Updated all Project Objects to use the latest C/S and PowerClient deployment features.
  

Media Player in action on an MP3 music stream

Media Player in action on an MP4 movie stream

     The Multimedia Player will allow local files to be played & viewed from your local machine. It is also designed to allow media data streams to be played and viewed from any valid URL across the internet. The MultiMedia Player supports the following formats: .MOV, .MP3, .MP4, .AVI, .WTV, .MID, .MKA, .MKV, .MV4, .WAV, .WMV, just to mention the main types. More music and video formats are also supported as well.

 

Use various media sources from your PC or across the internet!

 

 

    Your MultiMedia play list is also always at your finger tips using the STD Frameworks ability to add a User Object(s) to the main Menu Toolbar on an Main or MDI Frame.

   Unlock the "Power" in PowerBuilder applications by using the STD Integrated framework! The MultiMedia Player is just one example of building a PB application from this powerful all free & open source Framework! Click here to download the Multi-Media Player example application!

 

Tip: Use the "vs_ole_media_player_master" object class from the framework to add live application "how to" videos to your PB business applications! 

Enjoy ... Chris

STD Integrated Framework - 2023R1 released!

  ** Hot News **

  Integrated Foundation Classes (2023R1) Released!

 "THE" Framework for PowerBuilder & PowerServer 2022!

(Framework version 2023.1.0.325 - March 23, 2023) 

Framework can now generate a full App dump on demand!

        Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are very pleased to announce that they have just released a new version of their Integrated Foundation Class library framework 2023R1 (build 2023.1.0.325) exclusively for PowerBuilder 2022 and PowerServer 2022 (Cloud), and InfoMaker 2022 (build 1892) - with new features, enhancements and upgrades!

  

     STD are also very excited as this release represents another significant enhancement milestone to the Integrated framework that really further exemplifies the power of the Appeon PowerBuilder 2022  development environment! The updated framework combined with the current PowerBuilder and/or PowerServer products, positions developers to take advantage of today's Agile and DevOps methodologies. Plus it further enhances a newer GUI "punch" in your Native and Cloud based Apps without buying expensive add-on products. Especially, since the framework is free!

     For a summary of the previous framework version's new & revised features for 2021 through 2022, please follow these links - 2021R5, 2022R1  and 2022R2. Note that the Integrated framework had 3 releases in 2022 and 5 releases in 2021 - so that it's always leading edge feature rich! STD also has more features planned for more Integrated framework in 2023 as well!

   

   The following are some of the key highlights of the new 2023R1 Integrated Foundation Class library for Appeon PowerBuilder 2022 build 1892, as follows:

• All obsolete object system classes were removed to align with PB2022
  
• Continued to refactor external API's to conform to C++ v2019 used in PB 2022.
  
• Tested code compliance with W10 / W11 & W2019 / W2022 22H2 builds.
  
• Updated the framework to support the new PB built-in GetInstalledRuntimes() method
  

Debug now shows all instantiated NVUO's & their Parent!

Debug now shows all Windows with their current active status!

     The latest Integrated framework version contains the following updates and has been tested with the latest MS-Windows 10 O/S (22H2 build 19045.2728), MS-Windows 11 O/S (22H2 build 22621.1413), PB 2022 build 1892 and the PowerServer 2022 build #1.3.0. Testing within PB Apps included Win32 (both P-code & M-code) and Win64 (P-code) executable deployments. Testing inside of PowerClient and PowerServer included both 32bit and 64bit Apps & PowerServer App/Server (Web API) deployments.

Note: All the STD frameworks are free and can be downloaded from its STD Foundation Classes project hosted on the SourceForge website and it is licensed under Apache 2.0 open source model.

Release 2023.1.0.325 - Major Release (2023R1) - change highlights ...  

1. Migrated the framework from its version 2022.3.0.310 to 2023.1.0.325
2. Continued to refactor external API's to conform to C++ v 2019 used in PB 2022
3. Revised "nc_app_controller_master" to add "is_appl_startup_file_name" variable (support Apps starting up from a BAT file)
4. Revised "nc_app_controller_master" adding "of_get_appl_exe_name" method to Return the Application's EXE name
5. Revised "nc_app_controller_master" object's "of_set_powerbuilder_environment_info" method to log information about the current default printer
6. Revised "nc_app_controller_master" object's "of_set_powerbuilder_environment_info" method to ensure that search for PB.INI uses "absolute path".
   

      The OrderEntry example application and the Integrated Framework's Documentation has also been updated to the new Integrated Foundation class 2023R1 framework version. You can download the example application from here. Also, check out the online "getting started" video series to accelerate your assimilation of the best & free framework for PowerBuilder, PowerClient & PowerServer (Cloud) based applications!

 

Visual Expert's STD Framework Summary Analysis

   STD would also like to thank Novalys Corporation for their support of the Foundation Classes by supplying the VisualExpert product for the framework's analysis & documentation!

 

 

 Enjoy!

PowerBuilder 2022 - BASE64 Example

 ** Hot News **

STD Foundation Classes

Updated BASE64 Example Application released!

 

     Software Tool & Die Inc. today are very pleased to announce an updated Base64 Encoding / Decoding example application for Appeon PowerBuilder that was built from the latest STD Integrated Framework (version 2023.1.0.325) and the newest Appeon PowerBuilder PB2022 Maintenance Release release (build 1892). The highlights in this release are:

• Migrated the code to PB2022 build 1892
• Updated "Theme" support for PB2022
  
• Updated "Corrupt" Base64 file handling check
  
• Updated the BLOB processing feature for SQLAnyWhere v17 build 17.0.11.7058)
• Converted Application Messages to use the new framework supplied "dw_messages_app_e" DataWindow object that is now used to store application specific messages.
  
• Update the STD Framework to the latest version 2023.1.0.325
• Tested the Base64 code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.2728
• Tested the Base64 code on W11 version 22H2 build 22621.1413
• Updated for PowerClient 2022 App deployment
• Updated for PowerServer 2022 App deployment

 

Base64 example from an ANSI text file!

     Base64 encoding and decoding is a critical  feature when processing XML and JSON files that contain binary datum. As well as using PowerBuilder's PBDOM feature, an XML DataWindow or interacting with Web Services that pass binary data back and forth (ie: JSON in a RESTFul web service). The received binary data will be in base64 encoded format - which is unusable to your PB application unless decoded (converted back) to its original binary state. Conversely, binary data that your PB application needs to send to other XML or JSON based applications must be converted (encoded) into the base64 standard.

 

PowerClient based Base64 example using Unicode text file!

 

Error handling for corrupt (incomplete) or wrong encoded Base64 files.

    The Base64 Example application utilizes standard Microsoft Base64 API's supplied by the MS-Windows O/S. These API's are now embedded in the framework's "nc_crypto_master" object class and easily called from your PowerScript code, as follows:

• lo_crypto.of_base64_stringtobinary ( lblb_image , ls_base64 )

Base64 file translation into an image (or any other binary format for that matter)!

 

    The latest Base64 Example - along with the STD Integrated Framework is also able be used with PowerClient and PowerServer (Cloud) v2022 applications. Thus, the Base64 Example application can also be deployed to your favourite Web Server for convenient deployment. 

 
    You can download the Base64 Example application from the STD Framework's website by clicking here! You can also download either of the free open source STD frameworks for PowerBuilder, InfoMaker and PowerServer version 2022 by clicking here!

   Note: The Archive folder on SourceForge contains older versions of the PB Base64 application for older versions of PB!

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

PowerBuilder 2022 External Files Example

 * Hot News Item **

PowerBuilder 2022 - Drag & Drop External Files Example!

  

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are please to announce the new release of an STD Integrated Framework example application that utilizes the framework to implement External File Drag & Drop! The ability to drag & drop into a PowerBuilder application via the STD Framework has been feature for almost a decade. However, there was not a detailed example on how to perform this action except in the OrderEntry example application. The STD framework implements this by allowing the PB Developer to just set one property, coding one event and then directing the file name data to any standard native PB control!
  

    The External File Drag & Drop example application utilizes the STD Integrated Framework version 2023.1.0.345 release and the newest Appeon PowerBuilder 2022 release (build 1892) to locate external files dragged into any PB Application. In turn, the framework facilitates identifying external files coming into a PB application. This latest framework now also detects if the PB App is running in "ADMIN Mode" as well. This is important because external file drag & drop cannot be performed while the application is in that mode.

  

A list of External Files can be directed to any PB control!

    The Integrated framework allows the PB developer to enable the External Files Drag & Drop by just setting one property. The PB developer then just needs to code one event to handle the external file drop, as follows:
   

Three easy steps... a) Property ON, b) Code framework event, c) Use function to get file names!

     The STD External File Drag & Drop PowerBuilder example application can now be downloaded from the SourceForge website. Please click here to download & enjoy!
  

Regards ... Chris